Oh So Sensitive Skin

There are many reasons why you might find yourself with particularly sensitive skin. It may be something you’ve experienced your whole life, and is genetic. Similarly it could be environmental–dry climates promote more flakiness and dryness than humid climates. Perhaps your diet lacks hydration: water and vegetables hydrate you from the inside out. Whatever the case, there are changes you can make to encourage your skin to be less sensitive, as well as different ways to be as delicate to your skin’s sensitive nature. Here are a few areas to cover to keep your skin’s delicate surface at the back of your mind.

Makeup Removal

At night, always take off your makeup. Give your skin some rest. Remove your eye and face makeup with as little tugging as possible. As always, dab instead of pull. As with any product you are using on your body, test a spot on your arm or hand before you use anything on your face. People with sensitive skin are more likely to have a reaction to something that is just not for them, and this should be tested.

Cleansing

Firstly, if you’re washing your face more than twice a day, it’s too much.  Your sensitive skin needs time to rebuild after dirt is removed, and to do so needs to be left alone.

Sun-care

Always wear a light, non-oily sunscreen on your face, neck, and chest, and reapply a small layer every few hours. This is not exclusive to sensitive skin, but doubly important in sensitive skin’s care regime. Sunscreen protects from the drying effects of the sun. If your skin is sensitive as a matter of being “pale”, or having low melanin, heat will affect you more than others and time out of the sun is necessary. Vitamin D is essential to overall health and happiness, but a tan isn’t meant for everyone. As your skin ages, you’ll thank yourself for protecting your sensitive skin from the damaging rays of the sun that decrease collagen production and produce brown spots.

Night-Time

Use a protective but not overly oily night cream, which may be too much for skin that needs a simple regime. Any lotion that is scented is a straight indication that it will irritate sensitive skin.

Diet

Vegetables are hydrating and full of nutrients that you need. The positive effects of water on your skin cannot be underscored enough either! When your lips are dry or your skin feel toughs, you’re dehydrated and need some TLC straight from the tap. The less amount of salt you consume, too, contributes to stable hydration.

My Skin is Dry – But Why?

The best way to address dry skin is to start with the cause.

Winter

Right now, it’s probably dryness-inducing winter weather that’s getting to your soft skin. Wear warm clothes and don’t expose skin to the elements if it’s possible to avoid.

Hot Showers

When it is cold out, it’s hard to resist having an extra hot shower. However, if the mirror is steamed up in your bathroom, you aren’t doing your skin any favours. Water that’s too hot going directly on your skin will irritate it and make it harder to retain moisture. Consider turning the heat down a bit in the shower–you’ll get used to it–and you will see improvements in your skin.

Rubbing

Rubbing irritates your skin and damages a protective layer that is always working to trap in moisture for your skin. Pat dry with a clean towel, from your face to your toes.

Soap

When it comes to soap there are a lot of options, but not all will be good for your skin. Look for soap that is scent-free and hypoallergenic. Added scents in a soap will really only serve to irritate your skin. The same is true for laundry soap. Use of a scent-free and sensitive skin laundry detergent is important. Reducing the amount of irritants in your environment is a great way to improve skin.

Eczema

If skin seems particularly enflamed or aggravated, it may be eczema. Eczema often shows itself as itchy, raised skin, and can be triggered by stress. Taking natural supplements such as fish oil can help, as do many of the aforementioned lifestyle changes: non-irritating soap and warm showers can help reduce flare-ups.

Sun

Sunscreen. All the time. The sun not only damages our skin’s ability to retain moisture, but harms our ability to produce collagen. By protecting skin from the drying effects of the sun, we also help to slow the process of aging.

Age

As we age, our skin is less capable of holding moisture. To help combat this, supplement your diet with essential fatty acids, which combat water loss in the epidermis. Flaxseed oil, walnuts, and canola oil are valuable sources.

Food to Avoid for Clear Skin

Snacks

Foods with added sugars cause a spike in blood sugar and are responsible for inflammation in the body. Chips can be the most obvious saboteur of your good skin. They are high in both fats and salt, dehydrating your skin and causing that tired, aged look of puffiness beneath your eyes. Cutting out chips and doubling up on water intake will deflate your swollen under eye and reduce redness that comes from high-fat foods.

Alternative: Natural sugars found in fruit won’t cause a sudden spike. A few squares of dark chocolate can also be actually beneficial for your skin, as dark chocolate (go for 70% or higher) contains the anti-inflammatory antioxidants your skin wants. And it doesn’t taste bad either.

Unsalted nuts can satisfy your snack craving too, and those high in omega-3 fatty acids improve skin’s elasticity by promoting collagen production. Walnuts have the highest omega-3 fatty acid content.

Starch

Spikes in blood sugar are also caused by food with high-glycemic content. Starches like white pasta, bread, and rice are linked to acne-causing inflammation.

Alternative: Whole grain pastas, bread, and rice contain less sugars and are complex carbs that will keep your energy pumping for longer throughout the day.

Beverages

Watch what and how much of it you’re drinking. It is easy to take in an incredible amount of sugar through beverages without noticing, in fact, it’s probably what is worth watching the most. Added sugars cause inflammation and dehydrate the body. This is especially true for drinking alcohol, which dehydrates you and thus speeds up the process of aging.

• Alternative: Drink natural juices, but always focus on drinking enough water throughout the day to remain hydrated. Drinking enough water keeps your skin feeling elasticized and healthy, and makes you feel more alert throughout the day. Green tea is also high in anti-oxidants, which will reduce redness. The calming sensation of green tea is an added bonus.

Dairy

Many people find that reducing or removing dairy from their diet dramatically improves their skin tone.

• Alternatives: If your skin improves by cutting out or down on dairy, replace milk’s calcium and Vitamin D by getting it from other sources, like dark leafy greens, broccoli, and almonds. High levels of vitamin D are found in eggs and mushrooms among other places.

Improving your diet for your skin health shouldn’t feel like a cruel trial, and should dramatically improve your lifestyle. Healthy skin is great for self-confidence, and being better hydrated reduces day-time sleepiness and provides you with more energy throughout the day. Alternatives to rise-and-fall beverage and snacks are the hardest habit to change, but healthy skin, plentiful energy, and leveled moods will show themselves sooner than you think.

Hyperpigmentation

As we age, we a may notice our skin tone change, especially if it manifests as dark spots on our hands, face, neck, and chest that weren’t there before. This is known as hyperpigmentation.  Unwanted appearance of hyperpigmentation can be treated in a variety of ways.

What is hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation is either an upswing in melanin production or a concentration of the area in which melanin is being produced and showing itself on the skin as darker pigment. While generally harmless and not a sign of skin cancer, these spots can be cosmetically annoying for anyone, especially for those who are careful about skin care.

What causes hyperpigmentation?

Little circles of darker skin are often referred to as “sun spots”. The sun is indeed the cause of many of these hyperpigmentation spots, but not exclusively. Unprotected sun exposure stimulates melanin production in the skin and causes these dark “sun,” “age,” or “liver” spots. Hyperpigmentation is also caused by changes in hormones, particularly during pregnancy.

Prevention

As our skin is so sensitive to the sun, the number one preventative measure is wearing sunscreen to stop penetration to the deeper layers of our skin. Of course, a light-wearing non-oily daily moisturizer with SPF 30 is best to balance sun protection at the same time as maintaining skin tone and health. Unnecessary sun exposure should be avoided too–there are many alternatives to suntanning if tanned skin is a priority for you.

Exfoliation is another helpful preventative measure. Dead skin cells can present darker areas on the skin and it is important to help slough them off. A mild exfoliant that cleanses but does not give your skin that “tight” feeling is best, as exfoliants are most useful when used in careful moderation.

Skin Products

ZO Skin Health offers products such as Ossential Advanced Radical Night Repair and the Level III: Aggressive Anti-Aging Program that uses high concentrations of retinol to combat sagging, darkening skin. For more dramatic results, ZO Medical also offers medical-grade programs to significantly improve the tone of your skin.

Sunscreen: Protect Your Skin from the Sun–and Clogs

Reapplying sunscreen can be annoying. It’s laborious, can mess with your makeup, and  it’s hard not to convince yourself it’s doing more damage than good–clogging pores when it should be protecting your skin from irritation. There are many good alternatives to slathering on thick, oily sunscreen.

Cream for your Face, Cream for your Body

With a day sunscreen, or night cream, you should always use a separate cream for your body and your more sensitive skin: face, neck, and chest. Hopefully this separation is already a part of your skin care routine, but this is especially important to stick to with regards to sunscreen. Sunscreens work hard to protect you from damaging UVA and UVB rays, and a high-quality sunscreen is both protective and easy on your sensitive, beautiful skin. Medical grade makeup offered by Britannia Dermedics balances protection from the sun and maintenance of hydrated, clean skin.

Mineral Makeup – with SPF

Mineral sunscreen–such as Colorescience’s Sunforgettable Mineral Sunscreen Brush– provides an alternative to the daily slather-on. What’s more is that this type of sunscreen encourages sun protection by being easier to reapply and compact enough to keep in your bag or on your person.

Reapply

A good sunscreen goes a long way to fight the signs of aging and reduce irritation. However, reapplication is essential to effective sunscreen use. Applying a light sunscreen in the morning will only protect your skin for a few hours. Reapplication is easier with a mineral sunscreen, and getting in the habit may be easier to deal with when a light powder is required instead of a cream. The mineral powder is sheer and available in matte or shimmering finishes–enhancing your healthy glow in whatever way you prefer. The powder is also available in a few SPF strengths to accommodate different skin sensitivitiess. Sunscreen should be used day in and day out.

Creams

Other sunscreen options are light, non-oily creams that are available through all medical-grade lines endorsed and provided by Britannia Dermedics.

Skin Care and Great Hair

Summer. It’s coming. Not unlike our faces, our hair can find itself very dry or very oily in the summer–polar opposites that are hard to balance. However, aiming to return moisture to your hair and scalp is not as hard as it sounds. Don’t fear the frizz this summer; simple tips are here to help.

Less is More

A rule of thumb for keeping your hair in line is surprising: less is more. Avoid combing when unnecessary, which will pull at and damage hair. Also avoid washing your hair if you really don’t need it. Washing your hair too much dries your hair out by stripping its natural oils, and will turn a summer shine down to a dull and dry state.

Go Sulphate-Free

Sulphate-free is the way to go for both shampoo and conditioner. Sulphates pull all the dirt and excess oil out of your hair to clean it, but go several steps too far and pull out natural oils that keep your scalp healthy and itch-free. Any oils that give your hair a dynamic look and feel are gone down the drain. A high-quality salon-grade shampoo and conditioner is strongly recommended, but mid-level brands also make sulphate-free options.

Help your Scalp

Washing, heat, cold, brushing–these things all take a toll on your scalp’s health. Avoid dandruff and feel comfortable and beautiful by giving your scalp some TLC. A common cure for an itchy or dry scalp is to massage a few teaspoons of coconut oil into it. It’s best to do this at night, as the coconut oil can be very apparent when first applied. Natural coconut oil is chemical-free and contains nothing that will strip moisture.

Sunscreen

Rub a little sunscreen in your part before you spend time the sun. Though you can’t see any damage occurring, a sunburnt or tanned scalp will produce less healthy hair and cause the appearance of dandruff. Take care and enjoy a summer of luscious hair.

Spring Allergies and Skin Care

There’s nothing to like about Spring allergies except that they signal the change of the seasons. It can be a very frustrating relationship between your skin care routine and the itching and rubbing that allergies bring to our faces. Here are some makeup and skincare routine tips to lessen the impact of allergies: keep your makeup the way you want it, and help keep irritation at bay.

Use Clean Make-up Tools

Whether it is a makeup brush or eyelash curler, tools get dirty. For the sake of both your allergies and your skin cleanliness, make sure to keep everything you use–especially what you use regularly–very clean. Itchy eyes are the main sign of Spring allergies, and using a clean eyelash curler will reduce irritation. Wipe your curler with alcohol pads to keep it clean, and wash your brushes with a brush cleanser or water. The added benefit is that your tools will last much longer than if they are left alone to build-up makeup and, in the case of brushes, clump together. Your tools will be at their best to help you with your sensitive skin; your clean complexion and bright, non-itchy eyes will thank you.

Reduce Puffiness

Puffiness is frustrating: it makes you look older than you are, and usually stems from rubbing your skin, intake of salt, dehydration, or all of the the above. Reduce puffiness in Spring by taking allergy medicine, keeping hydrated, and keeping rubbing your face at a minimum. Avoiding rubbing is important as it irritates your skin, and pulls at your delicate skin cells that are trying to produce more collagen to keep you looking as healthy and glowing as possible. Sensitive, medical grade skin products are designed to keeping unnecessary itchiness at a minimum by taking good care of your already allergy-irritant prone skin.

Conceal Puffiness and Redness

Don’t let your allergies get in the way of looking as beautiful, happy, and healthy as you are. Your skin is beautiful, so forget about letting a red nose and puffy eyes get you down. Conceal puffiness below the eyes by swiping a non-irritating bronzer below the eyes, making your eyes appear brighter. A little colour theory goes a long way: green-tinted concealers cancel out redness around the nose and eyes.

Get out there, armed and ready for Springtime.

Chlorine vs Your Skin

Good weather is coming quickly, and soon we’ll be dying for pools to open for a bit of relaxation and relief. It is most likely that the pools you’ll be encountering this summer are chlorinated, and it is important to think about how this chemical affects our skin and hair. Know what chlorine does and how to treat yourself before and after a dip for a summer of cool relief, and great, glamorous beauty.

Chlorine

Being in a chlorinated pool isn’t a bad thing, and on a hot summer day it’s hard to remember to care for your skin and hair while your running for relief from the sun. Chlorine is a chemical that kills bacteria in pools, and thank the high heavens for it. But don’t let a clean pool undermine your beauty routine.

Protect Your Hair Before You Jump In

If you are comfortable this way and want to, wearing a bathing cap is the best way to protect your hair from chlorine apart from keeping your head above water. If the glamorous alien look isn’t for you, giving your hair a light treatment of coconut oil will help provide your hair with moisture while repelling chlorinated water from soaking into your locks. It’s counterproductive to go sulfate-free with your hair and then soak it in harsh chemicals, so keep your head above water or protect those locks before you dive in!

Hit the Showers

After your day at the pool, chlorine has bonded with your skin and hair and needs a good wash to get it out. Look for a specialty cleanser that targets harsh chemicals but doesn’t strip your skin of all moisture.

Moderation

Ultimately, chlorine will be harmful to your skin because it aims to kill dirt and disinfect everything it comes in contact with. Be moderate with the frequency and amount of time you spend in a chlorinated pool. The chemical is desperate to take away your bad oils as well as your good oils–and you want to keep those. Protect yourself and jump on in!

Summer Skin Care for Men

Skin concerns in the summer months aren’t just for women. You’re out on the golf course, riding around in the boat, kayaking, running and so on. The sun is beating down, you’re sweating and dirt and oil are building up, not to mention sun damage.

Men’s Skin Care Tips

We all know sun protection is essential (at least we hope you are using it regularly), but cleansing is crucial for your skin. It’s easy to become complacent and to not worry about it. But the dirt will build up and cause blocked pores, blackheads and an unhealthy looking complexion.

Here are some suggestions:

Oily Skin:

Over-washing your face can strip those important oils and irritate your skin, causing more oil to be produced as a reaction. Use a clean towel to pat your face if you’re sweating from exercise or the sun beating down on a hot day. Don’t use the same towel later, as it’s going to be filled with bacteria and dirt, irritating your skin further. Wash regularly–twice a day, and seal in moisture with a light moisturizer. Dealing with oily skin is not about stripping away all the oils, but maintaining a balance of hydration and cleanliness.

Dry Skin:

Prone to dry skin? It can be a result of genetics, sun exposure, over-cleansing, and under-moisturizing. Consider a moisturizer that is non-oily (it will clog your pores), which will help your skin to retain its natural moisture by providing your face with a protective shield. This will also help combat ingrown hairs or irritation from shaving by maintaining a healthy relationship between your skin, hair follicles and pores.

Rough Skin:

Men frequently find rough skin on different parts of their bodies than just the face–midsection, arms, and chest. While these rough patches may be caused by eczema or psoriasis, there are many ways to improve the quality, and most importantly, the comfort of your skin.

Try applying a sensitive-skin moisturizer (no scents or alcohols) after washing your face or after showering—this is the best way to lock in moisture. Water on the face is locked in, and moisturizers wick away unnecessary water after that. Then, leave it alone. If rough skin persists, consult your dermatologist or Britannia Dermedics about a regime or treatment that will improve your skin quality.

Treatments

To improve your skin, try non-surgical and non-invasive treatments such as laser, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels to develop healthier, younger, and more evenly-toned skin in a few treatments.

Winter Skin Care

In the shower:

If the mirror is steamed up when you step out of the shower, you may be drying out your skin. Turn down the heat a bit so you don’t strip the oil from your face and body, leaving you with dry, flaking skin.

Pat dry:

Pat dry with a towel instead of rubbing. This is doubly important for sensitive facial skin, but also for the rest of your body.

H2O

Drinking water is good for entire body. It will aid in keeping your skin hydrated, and can help to clear up acne.

Moisturize

Lock in moisture after showering or bath.

Wrap up

During winter’s harsh and drying conditions, keep yourself as wrapped up as possible.

Shaving

Shaving in the same direction your hair grows is the least irritating method. Always use a moisturizing shaving cream.

Arms

Repay your elbows for all the work they do for you by keeping them moisturized, as the constant use and movement as they bend back and forth dries them out, leaving them looking grey, ashy and irritated.

Chest 

Think of the skin care routine for your chest as being similar to the care you give to your face. The skin on your chest does not have very much fat under it and so, is very delicate. You should get into the habit of patting dry every part of your body (remove rubbing from the picture, permanently). Like your hands, face, and neck, your chest is prone to signs of aging. Use your SPF facial moisturizer every day from your forehead down to the top of your breasts to defend yourself against the sun’s aging effects.

Post Christmas Skincare Rescue

Christmas is over, but the wear and tear on your skin from several weeks of overindulgence is still here. Puffy eyes, dryness, bloating, spots and extra wrinkles stare back at you from the mirror. Alcohol, rich food and less sleep have left their mark.

1.  Get back to basics

Get back to eating a good diet of lots of vegetables and fruit, along with plenty of water.

Daily good skincare needs to be on your list. Ensure your skin is cleansed, toned and moisturized twice daily. And don’t forget to exfoliate twice a week. It’s easy to slip into bad habits, or forget your good ones over the festive period, but it’s time to get back to your old routine.

2. Puffy eyes?

All that sodium and dairy over the holidays can leave your eyes looking tired and baggy, even if you well rested. Try this – keep your eye makeup remover in the fridge. It’s cooler temperature will turn into an excellent compress when used with cotton pads. You can also try lying down with chilled used teabags over your eyes.

3. Need a little extra TLC?

Go for a microdermabrasion or chemical peel to get a thorough removal of dead skin cells and rejuvenate your complexion.

if you follow these steps, your skin should be looking gorgeous again soon. And good skincare, we have to say, is done daily!

4.  Want to make a big difference?

Try our Venus Legacy contouring treatments for the entire face and body. It’s a safe and affordable non-surgical way to treat loose skin, cellulite, fat deposits and wrinkles.

Winter Skin Care for Rosacea Sufferers

Dry skin, the result of Calgary’s cold weather during the winter months, can be a problem for rosacea sufferers. Indoor forced air heating and the drying effect of low temperatures and cold winds outdoors can be the culprits behind a flare-up. Studies also indicate aging is a factor in outbreaks of this skin condition.

 How can I prevent rosacea flare-ups?

Attention to skin care can help control and management of this skin condition. Gentle twice-daily cleansing is crucial to remove bacterial build-up, cosmetics and excess oil. If skin is extremely dry, use a creamy, low-foaming non-soap, fragrance-free cleanser

After allowing skin to air dry, follow up with a topic medication, and allow it to dry before applying moisturizer or cosmetics to allow the medication to work.

When venturing outdoors, use a scarf to protect the face from the drying impact of wind and cold temperatures, but avoid wool as it can irritate skin and exacerbate the condition.

To minimize the effects of indoor temperatures, especially forced air heating, try to keep the thermostat as low as possible and use a humidifier often.

 What is rosacea?

It’s a chronic, inflammatory skin condition mostly seen on the face. It causes facial redness and small red pus-filled pustules or bumps. It’s often mistaken for acne or eczema. If left untreated, it will worsen with time.

Beauty sleep – your skin needs it

You’ve likely noticed when you skimp on sleep, the results show up in your face. Dilated blood vessels from lack of sleep show up on your face in the form of tired skin which sags and bags, giving you a less than ideal complexion.

The bad news

 When you’re exhausted, you’re also more likely to be stressed and that’s going to show up on your face. If you’ve been up to the wee hours smoking and imbibing, well, it’s bad news for your skin.  Alcohol can affect the quality of your time in bed when you should be getting a deep restful sleep. Smoking – well, it’s not news to anyone that it causes wrinkles.

 Your entire body, including your skin, switches into repair mode while you’re sleeping. Your skin takes this time to renew itself by replacing older skin cells with new ones. Hormonal and metabolic changes take place while you’re at rest. Losing sleep can disrupt these changes.

 It’s not only your skin that suffers. Chronic lack of sleep is linked to many serious health issues—high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and depression.

 The good news

Skin recovers quickly. If you get a good night’s sleep, the changes are rapidly apparent. How much is enough? The experts say seven to nine hours is right, any more than that is too much.

 Don’t be tempted to short-change yourself on pillow time. Your skin will thank you.

Winter is the Perfect Time to Rejuvenate your Skin

The best time to under go Skin rejuvenation procedures is during the winter. With someprocedures, avoiding the sun is crucial immediately after the treatment. Minimizing sun exposure is essential at any time of the year. Undergoing the process during the colder months makes it easier to avoid damaging sensitive, recently treated skin.

What results can I expect with skin rejuvenation?

Depending on the treatment and the condition of your skin, treatments are effective for:

·      Acne & acne scarring

·      Sun damage

·      Wrinkles & fine lines

·      Uneven skin texture

·      Age spots

·      Hyperpigmentation

·      Loose skin

Again, depending on the skin rejuvenation procedure, there is typically little downtime and results are often within a few days. Some treatments provide results more slowly, as collagen rebuilds over a six-month period.

 Restore your natural glow

The colder months, which are often accompanied by harsh winds and extremes in temperature as we go from forced air heating in our homes to the outdoor elements, can mean your skin becomes dry and pale or gray looking. Get your glow back on by taking advantage of the weather to rejuvenate your skin.

Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are also fabulous ways to provide a temporary fix to winter skin blahs. They are quick and easy, and there’s no downtime, and you leave with a refreshed complexion.

Why consider a Chemical Peel?

Winter skin is often dehydrated, even if your complexion is oily. This can lead to blocked pores and irritated skin. In our dry climate, exfoliation is just as important during the winter, as it is when you’ve been perspiring during the summer months.

Chemical peels treat a number of skin issues, rejuvenating and refreshing your face. A peel is a safe and effect procedure to:

• Restore your face to  a more youthful look • Improve skin’s texture and tone • Reduce the appearance of aging • Minimize age spots, sun spots, liver spots and freckles • Lessen fine lines around your mouth and eyes • Reduce signs of sun damage and hyperpigmentation

How does a Chemical Peel work?

Fresher and healthier looking skin appears as the top layers of skin are peeled away. Chemical peels can be applied in different strengths, which determines the amount of peeling and side effects you may experience.

One of the benefits of a mild chemical peel is that there is little or no downtime. Any redness or swelling should dissipate quickly.

What to expect with a Chemical Peel:

A series of treatment is often recommended for longer lasting results. You will need to avoid the sun afterwards (which you should be doing already), to avoid burning your fresh and sensitive skin. And as always, apply sunscreen daily.

Skin Feeling Sensitive?

Why is your skin so sensitive? It could be genetic, or it could be environmental. We live in a dry climate, which exacerbates flaky and dry skin. Or it could be your diet – if you are not consuming enough water and vegetables to hydrate your skin, it could be prone to becoming more sensitive.

What can you do about it?

Clean Skin

Don’t wash your skin more than twice a day—it’s too much and your skin will become irritated. Always, always remove make-up at night. The best way to do this is gently, with as little tugging as possible. With sensitive skin, it is best to test a spot on an arm or hand first before trying it on your face.

Sun Avoidance

This goes for everyone, sensitive skin or not. Never leave home without light, non-oily sun protection on your face, neck and chest. This needs to be reapplied every three to four hours.

Night-time Moisturizing

A too heavy evening moisturizer may cause irritation. Also, avoid anything that is scented. Go with something that will provide moisture, but is still reasonably light.

Diet

Water, water and more water. The positive impact of water on your skin cannot be emphasized too often. Also, one thing many people don’t know is that vegetables are hydrating. Avoid salt as this contributes to dehydration. 

Spring Skin Preparation

We just had our first day of spring last week. Warmer weather is (hopefully) just around the corner. Your skin will change along with the seasonal transition.

Moving your skin from winter to spring

Put away the heavy moisturizers. Although you need them throughout Calgary’s dry and harsh winters, along with spring comes more humidity.

Exfoliate

It’s always a good time to exfoliate. Because your skin becomes drier in the winter, its really important to remove dead skin cells now. Be gentle – the idea is to polish, not scrub.

Protection

Although you should be wearing sunscreen 24/7 year round, if you haven’t been in, start. Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada, so protect your skin. Sunscreen is the number one way to protect your skin from the ravages of sun damage and reduce your risk of skin cancer.

Try Colorescience Sunforgettable to protect your skin from UVA/UVB rays. Easy to apply and non-greasy in a brush/powder form, Sunforgettable is an all-clear mineral powder sun protection with a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protector. It’s safe for rosacea, acne and eczema. Sunforgettable can also be applied immediately after a chemical peel or laser treatment.

We also love Colorescience Sunforgettable because it’s non-greasy, so it doesn’t interfere with your make-up.

Rejuvenate your Skin with a Peel

Rejuvenate your skin with regular exfoliation—it’s one of the best ways to brighten and refresh your complexion. It’s important to do it as part of your at-home skin care routine; however, this might not always achieve the desired results.

Consider a professional peel if you don’t feel your own exfoliation routine is doing the job.

Peels can perk up skin texture and appearance, minimize fine lines, reduce or eliminate superficial scarring, decrease pore size, and much more.

Different types of peels

There are special kinds of peels which are targeted at improving different skin issues. It’s best to have a consultation first to determine which facial peel treatment is best suited for your skin type and skin concerns. Peels treat:

• Sun damaged skin treatment
• Age spots and anti-aging skin treatment
• Skin Texture and rejuvenation
• Acne prone skin and acne scarring
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Freckles
• Melasma
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

What can I expect?

Peels can be customized for all skin types and tones throughout the year. There is minimal ‘social’ downtime and they are non-invasive.

Skin Tones and Lasers

Darker skin tones or, skin with increased pigmentation, may cause some people to hesitate when considering skin rejuvenation treatments.

Today’s high quality equipment and training means you don’t have to worry. Here is the low-down on skin treatments if you have darker skin:

Skin Tightening

Titan Skin Tightening is safe for all skin types and tones including dark skin.

Hair Removal

Laser hair removal for darker complexions causes concern for some people. Hair is safely and effectively removed in dark skin tones as it is with any other treatment.

Collagen production

Laser Genesis Facials are also safe for all skin types and tones. Talk to your treatment provider about the right treatments for you. Everyone’s skin is different and should be treated with careful and thoughtful attention and appropriate treatment plans.

Sunscreen

Although darker skin appears to be less visibly affected by the sun, it is important to wear sunscreen each and every day.

Skin rejuvenating treatments are a wonderful way to bring life back to aging skin. Good day-to-day skin care is essential to maintaining the results.

Skin Rejuvenation Procedures and Collagen Allergies

Advancements in dermal fillers today provide subtle contouring and changes to your appearance. Collagan-free fillers are now available for those who have allergies. Collagen-free treatments remove the risk for allergic because they contain natural occurring substances in the body. One common used and highly effective substance is hyaluronic acid, which is an effective alternative to collagen and is  allergic reaction-free.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance produced by your own body. It acts as a pathway through which nutrients can come from the bloodstream to your skin cells. This is what creates the look of fresh and youthful skin. Areas that have lost volume are ‘plumped up.’

Why is hyaluronic acid allergan-free?

Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in the body, while the collagen used in collagen fillers is not. Although collagen fillers have been used safely and effectively for a long time, we now have alternative treatments for those with collagen allerges. Your skincare specialist should test for allergies before any treatment.

Which allergy-free treatments are available?

Juvéderm is a dermal filler treatment which uses hyaluronic acid to draw hydration and nutrients to the surface of your skin. This “plumps” hollow areas and brings back youthful brightness. Hyaluronic acid in Juvéderm combines with water in your skin to createa a passage for nutrients to reach your skin cells.

Juvéderm treatment areas:

•          Tired eyes – dark circles and hollowness are decreased

•          Thin lips – nutrients plump the area

•          Cheeks and jawlines – add volume and contour

•          Elasticity – lost elasticity is returned

Talk to your skincare specialist about collagen-free options and whether a collagen-based or collagen-free treatment is right for your skin.